:ome        of  Fertilizers 
And  Straight-  Fer  VM  z«r 
Formulas 

Published  By 
l"a~i  L.  ;,yers 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


The 

Home   Mixin 

of 

Fertilizers 


l.ISHED    BY 

WILLIAM  S.  1  D.Sc.,  F.C.S.,  Director 

an  Nitrate  Propaganda 
Late  of  New  Jersey  State  Agricultural  College 

25  MADISON  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 
Reprinted  from  Farmers'  Digest 


• 


THE 

HOME    MIXING 

OF 

FERTILIZERS 

AND 

STRAIGHT    FERTILIZER 
FORMULAS 


PUBLISHED    BY 

WILLIAM   S.  MYERS,  D.  Sc.,  F.C.S.,  Director 

Chilean  Nitrate  Propaganda 
Late  of  New  Jersey  State  Agricultural  College 

25  MADISON  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 
Reprinted  from  Farmers'  Digest 


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Results  from  Use  of  Home  Mixed  Fertilizers 
on  Wheat  and  on  Rye. 


Wheat— 14  Bushels. 

Average  Product  per  acre  for  the 
U.  S.  of  Wheat  with  Average  Farm 
Fertilization— 1910. 


Wheat— 37  Bushels. 

The  Product  of  an  acre  of  Wheat 
Fertilized  with  Nitrate  of  Soda,  Home 
Mixed  with  Phosphates  and  Potash — 
1910. 


Rye — 18  Bushels. 


Rye— 36  Bushels. 


Average  Product  per  acre  for  the  The  Product  of  an  acre  of  Rye  Fer- 
U.  S.  of  Rye  with  average  Farm  Fertil-  tilized  with  Nitrate  of  Soda,  Home 
ization — 1910.  Mixed  with  Phosphates  and  Potash — 

1910. 


History  of  Home  Mixing 

of  Fertilizers  in  England   and 

in  Europe 


The  very  interesting  figures  published  by  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  not  long 
since,  showing  the  average  yields  per  acre  of  wheat, 
oats  and  barley  in  the  United  States  and  in  comparison 
with  those  of  Germany,  disclosed  an  extraordinary  and 
humiliating  condition  here  in  America. 

The  average  yields  of  wheat,  oats  and  barley  in 
Germany,  covering  a  recent  ten  year  period,  is  28.4 
bushels  per  acre  for  wheat;  47.3  bushels  for  oats;  and 
34.4  bushels  for  barley. 

The  United  States  shows  an  average  yield  for  the 
same  period  of  14  bushels  per  acre  for  wheat;  30  bushels 
for  oats;  and  26  bushels  for  barley  per  acre,  in  round 
numbers. 

In  view  of  our  soils  being  so  much  newer  than 
those  of  Germany,  and  having  been  in  use  for  com- 
paratively few  years,  the  early  soil  exhaustion  of  our 
lands  compared  with  the  splendid  returns  obtained  in 
Germany,  makes  the  comparison  a  very  mortifying  one 
for  our  American  farmers. 

If  one  looks  at  the  history  of  the  fertilizer  busi- 
ness in  this  country,  one  may  perceive  some  possible 
causes  to  account  for  these  striking  differences.  The 
rational  use  of  fertilizers  has  obtained  in  Germany 
from  the  time  commercial  fertilizers  began  to  be  used; 
that  is  to  say,  German  farmers  have  always  known 
Nitrate  of  Soda,  acid  phosphate  and  potash  salts  by 
their  proper  scientific  names  and  their  uses,  because  the 
Experiment  Stations  in  Germany  were  organized  in 
advance  of  the  commercial  fertilizer  industry,  and 


Home  taught    the    farmers    from    the    very    beginning    the 


Mixing  of 


Fertilizers  nature,  composition  and  precise  scientific  use  of  them. 


On  the  other  hand,  here  in  America,  our  Experi- 
ment Stations  were  not  established  until  a  false  and 
irrational  use  of  fertilizers  had  become  firmly  rooted 
among  our  farmers  and  planters;  and  even  yet  com- 
paratively few  of  our  American  farmers  know  any- 
thing about  the  real  nature  of  the  several  hundred 
compounds  which  are  foisted  upon  them  every  year 
by  fertilizer  mixers.  The  constituents  of  these  numer- 
ous compounds  may  comprise  a  group  of  certain  chemi- 
cals this  year,  and  a  group  of  wholly  different  ones 
next  year;  and,  as  a  rule,  the  printed  matter  in  fertilizer 
manufacturers'  booklets  and  on  the  fertilizer  bags  does 
not  disclose  anything  whatever  of  the  real  nature  and 
character  or  composition  of  the  constituents  of  the 
contained  fertilizers. 

We  have  pure  food  laws  which  are  now  fairly 
effective.  Our  fertilizer  laws  curiously,  however,  are 
most  defective  in  that  they  do  not  show  anything  as 
to  the  percentage  of  available  Nitrogen ;  although  they 
may  occasionally  show  the  percentage  of  available 
phosphoric  acid  and  of  available  potash.  The  really 
important  element  in  the  fertilizer,  both  from  a  com- 
mercial as  well  as  an  agricultural  food  producing 
standpoint,  is  its  Nitrogen. 

Since  the  cheaper  forms  of  Nitrogen  are  but  im- 
perfectly available,  and,  in  fact,  sometimes  scarcely 
available  at  all, — and  command  in  the  open  market 
several  times  the  value  of  the  best  and  most  available 
forms  of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash,  our  Experiment 
Stations  would  do  an  additional  excellent  work  by  pre- 
scribing an  official  analytical  method  for  available 
Nitrogen  fertilizers.  We  sincerely  hope  that  they  will 
continue  to  advocate  Home  Mixing  and  the  use  of 
straight  fertilizers. 

As  long  as  valueless  fillers  are  used,  involving  a 
high  cost  of  freight  on  the  filler  material  which  the 
farmer  must  pay,  and  as  long  as  the  most  inferior  and 


least  available  forms  of   Nitrogenous  fertilizers  receive 
the  highest  valuations  by  our  Experiment  Stations,  Fertilizers 
just  so  long  will  our  farmers  be  at  a  disadvantage  in  "       7 
comparison  with  German  farmers  in  producing  maxi- 
mum crops  at  minimum  cost. 

The  use  of  fertilizers  of  the  highest  availability — 
in  other  words,  the  rational  use  of  fertilizers,  namely, 
the  practical  method  used  in  Germany,  is  what  we 
must  come  to  here  in  order  that  our  farmers  may  pro- 
duce a  larger  quantity  of  food  stuffs  at  a  lower  price. 
This,  in  turn,  will  react  upon  the  general  fertilizer 
business  and  cause  a  tremendously  increased  consump- 
tion of  all  the  best  forms  of  fertilizer  materials,  as  is 
the  case  in  Germany. 

It  seems  extraordinary  that  our  fertilizer  industry 
refuses  to  get  in  line  with  modern  progress,  if  only 
merely  for  the  sake  of  its  own  prosperity. 


Fertilizers 


The  Home  Mixing  of  Fertilizers 


A  hundred  years  ago  the  farmers  of  America  and 
Europe  had  at  their  disposal  but  few  materials  for  in- 
creasing the  fertility  of  the  land.  Barnyard  manure 
was  then  the  great  fertilizer,  but  only  capable,  as  we 
realize  now,  of  restoring  but  incompletely  the  plant- 
food  carried  away  by  the  crops.  Yet  barnyard  manure 
was  justly  esteemed  for  its  fertilizing  value,  and  on 
many  a  farm  cattle  were  kept,  not  because  they  were 
in  themselves  profitable,  but  because  of  the  manure 
that  they  produced.  However,  for  all  of  the  cattle  kept 
on  the  farms  of  Europe,  the  productive  power  of  its 
soils  was  declining.  At  this  time  the  use  of  bones  be- 
came prevalent  and  this  marked  the  beginning  of  more 
rational  methods  of  soil  treatment. 

The  Rise  of  the  Fertilizer  Mixing  Industry. 

It  was  not  until  the  second  quarter  of  the  nine- 
teenth century,  however,  that  new  and  important  fer- 
tilizer materials  came  into  the  market.  The  increasing 
number  of  soil  and  crop  analyses  had  demonstrated  the 
invariable  presence  of  the  essential  constituents  in  both 
soils  and  plants;  while  the  numerous  vegetation  experi- 
ments showed  that  Nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid  and 
potash  were  often  present  in  the  soil  in  amounts  too 
small  for  profitable  yields. 

There  then  came  into  being  a  great  fertilizer  mix- 
ing industry.  Peruvian  guano  held  for  a  time  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  agriculture  of  contemporary  Europe. 
It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  supply  of  the  best 
grades  of  guano  became  depleted,  though  this  did  not 
occur  until  the  chemist  pointed  the  way  to  new  treas- 
ures of  plant-food.  Nitrate  of  Soda,  the  most  valuable 
source  of  commercial  Nitrogen  at  present,  came  to  play 
an  increasingly  important  role  after  the  middle  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  The  potash  salts  of  the  German 
mines  became  a  marketable  commodity  when  the  last 


battles  of  our  civil  war  were  being  fought;  and  when 
the  great  conflict  was  over,  the  phosphate  deposits  of 
South  Carolina,  and  subsequently  of  Florida  and  Ten- 
nessee,  were  ready  to  supply  the  third  important  con- 
stituent of  commercial  fertilizers. 

The  Make-Up  of  Commercial  Fertilizers. 

The  fertilizers  sold  to  American  farmers  are  valu- 
able in  so  far  as  they  contain  the  essential  available 
constituents,  —  Nitrogen,  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash. 
When  all  are  present  the  fertilizer  is  said  to  be  complete, 
otherwise  it  is  incomplete.  It  is  the  aim  of  the  fertilizer 
mixers  to  supply  to  farmers  both  incomplete  and  com- 
plete fertilizers,  chiefly  the  latter.  Furthermore,  usage 
and  state  legislation  compel  them  to  guarantee  that 
their  various  brands  contain  a  certain  proportion  of  the 
essential  constituents,  but,  unfortunately  for  the  farmer, 
they  do  not  require  any  disclosure  whatever  as  to  the 
availability  of  the  most  valuable  content,  viz.,  Nitrogen; 
hence,  the  attempt  to  state  a,  formula  on  the  bags,  or  on 
the  tags  attached  to  the  latter,  is  a  wholly  incomplete 
affair.  As  an  example,  we  may  take  a  fertilizer  whose 
formula  is  4-8-10,  that  is,  one  containing  4  per  cent,  of 
Nitrogen,  8  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid  and  10  per  cent. 
of  potash. 

Materials  of  various  qualities  and  grades  are  em- 
ployed for  the  preparation  of  so-called  complete  fer- 
tilizers, as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  list: 


Materials  Furnishing 
Nitrogen. 


Nitrate  of  Soda 
Nitrate  of  Lime, 
Sulphate  of  Ammonia, 
Calcium  Cyanamid, 
Dried  Blood, 
Tankage, 
Fish  Scrap, 
Cottonseed  Meal, 
Horn  and  Hoof  Meal , 
Hair  and  Wool, 
Leather  Scrap. 


Materials  Furnishing  MaterialsFurnishing 


Phos.  Acid. 


Thomas  Slag 
Acid  Phosphate, 
Bone  Meal, 
Phosphatic  Guano, 
Fish  Scrap, 
Bone  Tankage. 


Potash. 


Potash  Salts  (from 

Germany), 
Unleached  Wood 

Ashes. 


Aside  from  these  materials,  there  are  others  that  arc 
Fertilizers  occasionally  employed  by  mixers  to  furnish  filler. 


10 

Availability  in  Fertilizers. 

In  the  making  of  complete  goods  from  the  various 
straight  fertilizers  the  mixer  is  largely  guided  by  the 
cost,  as  well  as  the  quality  of  the  latter.  The  question 
of  quality  is  particularly  important,  since  no  high  grade 
fertilizer  can  be  made  from  inferior  ingredients.  The 
conception  of  quality  has  been  gradually  developed  by 
investigators  and  farmers  and  the  term  Availability  is 
commonly  employed  when  the  value  of  straight  or  mixed 
fertilizers  is  considered.  We  call  a  fertilizer  Available 
when  the  Nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid  or  potash  contained 
in  it  may  be  readily  used  by  the  crop;  and  not  Avail- 
able when  it  is  transformed  so  slowly  in  the  soil  as  to 
offer  but  little  plant-food  to  the  crop  at  any  one  time. 
A  striking  illustration  of  the  significance  of  Availability 
in  fertilizers  is  found  in  the  action  of  comparatively 
small  amounts  of  Nitrate  on  grass  or  grain  applied  early 
in  the  spring.  It  has  been  repeatedly  observed  that 
soils  containing  as  much  as  .15  per  cent,  of  Nitrogen, 
or  6,000  pounds  per  acre-foot  out  of  a  total  of  2,000 
tons,  which  such  an  acre-foot  weighs,  and  capable  of 
yielding  about  one  ton  of  hay  per  acre,  may  be  made  to 
produce  two  tons  of  hay  when  top-dressed  in  the  spring 
with  only  100-150  pounds  of  Nitrate.  At  first  it  may 
seem  strange  that  the  23  or  24  pounds  of  Nitrogen  in 
150  pounds  of  Nitrate  of  Soda  should  produce  this 
magic  effect,  when  measured  against  the  (5,000  pounds 
of  ordinary  Nitrogen  already  in  the  soil.  But  the  mys- 
tery is  made  clear  to  us  when  we  remember  that  Nitrate 
of  Soda  is  a  soluble  food  that  may  be  directly  taken  up 
by  plant-roots,  whereas  the  Nitrogen  of  the  soil  itself  is 
nearly  all  locked  up  in  inert  humous  compounds  which 
must  first  pass  through  the  various  stages  of  Nitration 
before  they  become  available.  With  some  qualifica- 
tions a  similar  comparison  could  be  made  between  the 
phosphoric  acid  in  ground  phosphate  rock,  known  as 


"floats,"  and  that  in  acid  phosphate;  or  between  JJ?™n  of 
potash  in  feldspar  rock  or  clay  and  that  in  sulphate  of  Fertilizers 
potash.  u 

In  order  to  protect  the  farmer  against  fraud,  fer- 
tilizer laws  have  been  enacted  in  most  of  the  Eastern 
States.  These  laws  compel  the  mixers  and  dealers  to 
guarantee  their  goods,  that  is,  to  state  on  the  bags  or 
tags  how  much  Nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid  and  potash 
their  fertilizers  contain;  furthermore,  they  are  also 
compelled,  but  in  an  incomplete  measure,  to  guarantee 
the  quality,  i.  e.,  Availability,  of  the  plant-food  sold  by 
them.  The  farmer  is  given,  however,  a  fair  measure  of 
protection  in  so  far  as  the  phosphoric  acid  and  potash 
purchased  by  him  are  concerned.  He  is  told  definitely 
how  much  phosphoric  acid  is  present  in  available  form. 
He  knows,  also,  that  the  potash  in  mixed  fertilizers  is 
derived  almost  exclusively  from  the  German  potash 
salts,  all  of  them  readily  available.  On  the  other  hand, 
he  is  given  little  protection  in  his  purchase  of  Nitrogen. 
To  be  sure,  the  fertilizer  laws  compel  the  mixer  to  state 
how  much  Nitrogen  there  is  present  in  this  commodity; 
yet  he  is  not  compelled  to  tell  the  exact  source  or  avail- 
ability of  the  Nitrogen  employed  by  him.  From  the 
consumer's  standpoint  this  is  a  serious  question,  since 
a  pound  of  Nitrogen  costs  about  four  times  as  much  as 
a  pound  of  either  phosphoric  acid  or  potash.  If  the  law 
required  merely  the  stating  of  the  total  per  cent,  of 
phosphoric  acid  or  of  potash  without  giving  the  amount 
of  soluble  or  available  percentages  of  the  same,  how 
incomplete  the  essential  information  would  be  as  to  the 
nature  or  value  of  .the  "so-called"  complete  fertilizers. 
More  than  that,  the  Nitrogen  is  not  only  costly  but 
calls  for  greater  farming  skill  in  its  use,  lest  the  yields 
and  quality  of  the  produce  be  unfavorably  affected. 
The  Activity  as  well  as  the  Availability  of  Nitrogen  in 
materials  like  leather  scrap,  hair  or  peat  is  but  one- 
fifth  to  one-tenth  as  much  as  that  in  Nitrate  of  Soda, 
and  we  can  therefore  realize  the  necessity  of  complete 
knowledge  as  to  the  agricultural  use  of  Nitrogen. 

It  is  conceded  by  all  authorities  that  more  accurate 
knowledge  in  this  direction  may  be  secured  by  the  prac- 


Home 


Mix     Tf  tice  of  HOME-MIXING,  that  is,  by  the  purchase  of 
Fertilizers  the  straight  fertilizers  and  their  mixing  at  home  on  the 

farm  in  amounts  and  proportions  best  suited  for  any 

particular  soil  and  crop. 


12 


Barley 


Pots  manured  with  Phosphoric  Acid,  Potash  and  Nitrate  of  Soda. 


Xitrate 
of  Soda 


none 


1  gr. 


3gr. 


In  agricultural  practice  from  75  Ibs.  to  200  Ibs.  of  Nitrate  of  Soda 
per  acre  is  applied  in  one  or  more  dressings. 


Advantages  of  Home  Mixing. 

The  practice  of  home-mixing  has  its  friends  as  well 
as  its  opponents,  but  when  all  the  arguments  pro  and 
con  are  summed  up  the  decision  must  be  entirely  in  its 
favor.  The  advantages  claimed  for  home-mixing  are:— 


1.  Better  adaptation  to  soil  and  crop.  Soils  vary  in 
their  chemical  composition,  and  in  their  previous 
history,  as  to  cropping  and  fertilization.  One  soil  13 
may  be  deficient  in  available  Nitrogen,  another  de- 
ficient in  available  phosphoric  acid.  In  one  in- 
stance a  heavy  application  of  manure,  a  crop  of 
crimson  clover,  or  alfalfa  stubble  may  have  been 
plowed  under;  and  in  a  second  instance  a  thin 
timothy  sod.  Evidently  a  crop  of  corn  would  not 
find  the  same  amounts  and  proportions  of  food  in 
these  cases,  and  it  is  therefore  idle  to  assume  that 
a  so-called  corn  fertilizer,  whatever  its  composition, 
would  prove  as  efficient  in  the  one  case  as  in  the 
other. 

Again,  it  is  common  knowledge  that  some 
crops  are  particularly  grateful  for  applications  of 
Nitrogen,  while  others  are  responsive  to  applica- 
tions of  phosphoric  acid  or  of  potash.  Yet  even 
here  the  soil  and  climate  exert  an  important  modi- 
fying influence.  For  instance,  clovers  and  other 
legumes  are  capable  of  securing  their  Nitrogen 
from  the  air  and,  except  in  the  early  stages  of  growth, 
are  independent  of  the  supply  in  the  soil  or  fer- 
tilizers. On  the  other  hand,  they  require  large 
amounts  of  potash,  phosphoric  acid  and  lime. 
Nevertheless,  certain  limestone  soils  require  only 
applications  of  potash,  while  many  silt  loam  or 
clay  soils  require  only  applications  of  phosphoric 
acid.  In  a  word,  then,  no  single  formula  for  any 
particular  crop  can  be  devised  to  suit  all  soils  and 
seasons.  When  the  mixing  is  done  on  the  farm, 
proper  adjustment  can  be  made  to  suit  local  con- 
ditions, known  best  by  the  farm  manager  after 
adequate  experience. 

One  advantage  of  //ome-Mixing  is  that  the 
farmer  may  make  any  combination  of  plant-food 
he  wishes,  and  know  the  form  and  availability  of 
the  ingredients  of  his  own  fertilizer,  and  he  will 
save  not  only  the  high  price  paid  for  filler,  but  also 
the  cost  of  transporting  it. 


Home 
Mixing  of 
Fertilizers 

14 


2.  Better  information  concerning  the  quality  of 
materials.  The  present  high  prices  of  organic  am- 
moniates  are  forcing  the  fertilizer  mixers  to  employ 
various  organic  materials  of  inferior  quality.  Since 
the  fertilizer  laws  do  not  require  any  distinction 


Carrots 


Pots  manured  with  Phosphoric  Acid,  Potash  and  Nitrate  of  Soda 


Nitrate 
of  Soda 


none 


3gr. 


In  agricultural  practice  from  2  cwt.  to  4  cwt.  of  Nitrate  of  Soda 
per  acre  is  applied  in  one  or  more  dressings. 


between  the  sources  of  Nitrogen,  mixers  feel  free  to 
meet  competition  and  to  reduce  the  cost  of  mixing 
by  employing  inert  materials  like  leather-scrap, 
hair,  wool  and  garbage  tankage.  Moreover,  even 
the  better  grades  of  organic  ammoniates  like  dried 


blood,  tankage,  and  ground  fish  are  now  adulter- 
ated more  than  formerly,  florae-mixing  protects 
the  farmer  against  the  use  of  inferior  materials 
and  permits  him  to  purchase  his  Nitrogen  in  the 
readily  available  forms. 

Many  of  the  ingredients  used  by  the  manu- 
facturers of  "complete"  fertilizers  are  produced 
directly  or  indirectly  by  themselves.  Others,  like 
Nitrate  of  Soda,  potash  salts  and  basic  slag,  are 
not  produced  in  this  country.  Naturally  the 
manufacturers  will  use  as  much  as  possible  of  the 
materials  produced  by  themselves,  on  which  they 
make  both  a  raw  material  and  a  mixing  profit,  and 
spend  as  little  as  possible  for  imported  materials 
on  which  they  can  make  but  one  profit. 

The  "complete"  fertilizer  manufacturers  use 
large  quantities  of  low  grade  materials  which  the 
farmers  would  not  buy  for  florae-Mixing  because 
of  the  doubtful  value  of  the  Nitrogen  owing  to  its 
not  being  available,  that  is,  indigestible  as  plant 
food.  But  the  manufacturer  finds  them  doubly 
valuable  as  filler,  because  he  can  label  his  goods  as 
containing  so  and  so  much  Nitrogen,  notwith- 
standing its  indigestible  quality  as  a  plant  food. 

3.  Lower  cost  per  unit  of  plant-food.  As  shown  by 
the  analyses  and  valuations  of  fertilizers  made  by 
different  experiment  stations,  the  so-called  overhead 
charges  made  by  the  mixers  amount,  on  the  aver- 
age, to  more  than  six  dollars  per  ton.  Otherwise 
stated,  the  farmer  who  buys  mixed  fertilizers  is 
made  to  pay  about  six  or  seven  dollars  per  ton  for 
mixing,  bagging,  shipping,  agents'  commissions, 
profit,  long  credit,  etc.  The  overhead  charges  tend 
to  increase  the  cost  per  unit  of  plant-food  in  all 
fertilizers,  and  to  a  particularly  marked  extent  in 
the  cheaper  brands.  Home-mixing  enables  the 
farmer  to  secure  available  plant-food  at  a  lower 
cost  per  unit. 


MixS°"of          "**     M°re  profitable  returns  from  the  use  of  fertilizers 
Fertilizers  may  be  secured  when  one  understands  tJieir  com- 

~^  ~  position  and  the  functions  of  their  single  ingredients. 

The  man  who  takes  the  trouble  to  make  himself 
acquainted  with  the  origin,  the  history  and  the 
action  of  different  fertilizers  is  perforce  bound  to 
secure  larger  returns  from  them  than  the  man  who 
blindly  follows  the  experience  of  others.  For  this 
reason  the  home-mixing  of  fertilizers  is  an  educa- 
tional factor  of  great  importance.  The  farmer  who 
does  his  own  mixing  is  bound  to  observe  the  effect 
of  season,  of  crop  and  of  rotation.  He  is  bound  to 
learn  something  of  the  particular  influences  of 
Nitrogen,  of  phosphoric  acid  and  of  potash.  In 
the  course  of  time  he  is  led  to  experiment  for  him- 
self, with  different  mixtures,  proportions  and 
methods  of  application,  and  doing  all  these  things 
he  becomes  more  skilled  and  successful  in  the  busi- 
ness of  crop  production. 

The  opponents  of  home-mixing  have  claimed,  on 
their  part,  that  the  farmer  cannot  prepare  mixtures  as 
uniform  as  those  made  at  the  factory.  They  have  also 
claimed  that  the  mixtures  made  at  the  farm  are  more 
costly  than  similar  mixtures  made  at  the  factory.  As 
to  the  first  of  these  objections,  it  has  been  demonstrated 
by  most  of  the  experiment  stations  in  the  East  and  the 
South  that  home-mixtures  can  be  made  mechanically 
as  satisfactory  as  the  best  of  the  commercial  brands. 
It  is  merely  necessary  to  screen  the  single  ingredients 
and  to  use  some  sort  of  a  filler  like  dry  peat  or  fine  loam 
to  prevent  caking.  The  second  objection  is  not  at  all 
borne  out  by  the  actual  experience  of  farmers  who  have 
been  using  home-mixtures  for  years. 

Equipment  and  Methods  for  Home-Mixing. 

The  equipment  required  for  home-mixing  is  very 
simple  and  inexpensive.  It  consists  of  a  screen  with 
three  (3)  meshes  to  the  inch,  and  about  4-5  feet  long 
and  1  V£  to  2  feet  wide,  a  shovel  with  square  point,  an 
iron  rake,  and  platform  scales. 


The  mixing  may  be  done  on  a  tight,  clean  barn  of 

floor,  and  a  heavy  wooden  post  is  useful  for  crushing  Fertilizers 
big  lumps    of    the   material;    frequently  the  use  of  a          17 
sieve  may  be  dispensed  with  by  this  means. 

Previous  to  mixing,  the  materials  are  screened,  the 
lumps  broken  up  and  again  screened.  The  mixing  may 
then  be  best  accomplished  by  spreading  out  the  most 
bulky  constituent  in  a  uniform  layer  about  six  inches 
thick.  The  next  most  bulky  constituent  is  then  similarly 
spread  out  on  top  of  the  first,  and  is  followed  in  its  turn 
by  the  others  until  the  pile  is  complete.  The  several 
layers  are  then  thoroughly  mixed  by  shovelling  the  en- 
tire heap  three  or  four  times.  Thorough  mixing  is 
shown  by  the  absence  of  streaks  of  different  materials. 
The  mixture  may  be  put  in  bags  or  other  convenient 
receptacles  and  kept  in  a  dry  place  until  needed. 

In  mixing  various  materials  some  knowledge  is  re- 
quired concerning  the  action  of  different  ingredients 
upon  each  other.  Such  knowledge  will  prevent  the 
danger  of  loss  of  constituents  or  the  deterioration  of 
quality.  The  materials  that  should  not  be  employed 
together  in  mixed  fertilizers  are  known  as  incompatibles. 
As  is  pointed  out  in  this  connection  in  Farmers'  Bulletin 
No.  225,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  it  should  be 
remembered  that  "  (1)  When  certain  materials  are 
mixed  chemical  changes  take  place  which  result  in  loss 
of  a  valuable  constituent,  as  when  lime  is  mixed  with 
guano,  Nitrogen  escapes;  or  in  a  change  of  a  constituent 
to  a  less  available  form,  as  when  lime  is  mixed  with  super- 
phosphates, the  phosphoric  acid  is  made  less  soluble; 
and  (2),  mixtures  of  certain  materials,  as,  for  example, 
potash  salts  and  Thomas  Slag,  are  likely  to  harden  or 
'cake,'  and  thus  become  difficult  to  handle  if  kept  some 
time  after  mixing." 

Potash  salts  may  be  mixed  with  Thomas  phosphate 
powder,  but  acid  phosphate  should  not  be  mixed  with 
quick  lime,  nor  sulphate  of  ammonia  with  basic  slag. 

The  modern  farmer  in  America  is  beginning  to 
understand  the  nature  of  straight  fertilizers  as  well  as 


t}ie  farmer  in   Germany.     He  knows  fairly   well  the 
character  and  qualities  of  the  materials  now  used  in 
18          mixing  fertilizers;  and  can  thus  form  his  own  judgment 
as  to  what  is  best  for  the  different  crops  and  soils. 

It  is  better  to  spread  fertilizers  broadcast  by 
hand,  or  by  a  top-dressing  machine;  fertilizer  drills, 
as  a  rule,  are  not  of  sufficient  capacity.  Broadcasting  is 
always  a  more  thorough  method  of  applying  fertilizers, 
and  gives  the  following  crops  a  better  opportunity  to 
utilize  all  the  material  and  prevents  too  much  concentra- 
tion of  plant  food  by  the  plants.  It  also  gives  a  better 
root  development,  since  the  plants  are  compelled  to 
utilize  a  larger  feeding  area  to  no  disadvantage,  since 
it  is  nature's  way. 

It  is  generally  better  to  harrow  in  fertilizers  after 
they  are  applied,  except  on  the  seeded  crops  or  on  sod 
lands. 


Calculations  for  Mixing  Fertilizers. 

As  an  example  of  how  the  proportions  of  the  differ- 
ent ingredients  in  a  mixture  may  be  calculated,  let  it  be 
assumed  that  a  farmer  wishes  to  prepare  a  4-8-6  potato 
fertilizer  out  of  Nitrate  of  Soda  containing  15  per  cent, 
of  Nitrogen;  acid  phosphate  containing  16  per  cent,  of 
available  phosphoric  acid  and  sulphate  of  potash  con- 
taining 50  per  cent,  of  actual  potash.  Remembering 
that  each  one  hundred  pounds  of  the  required  mixture 
is  to  contain  4  pounds  of  available  Nitrogen,  8  pounds 
of  available  phosphoric  acid  and  6  pounds  of  available 
potash,  we  may  best  determine  the  amounts  of  each  per 
ton  by  multiplying  the  given  figures  by  20.  Thus:— 

4  x  20  =    80  Ibs.  Available  Nitrogen  per  ton. 

8  x  20  =  160    "     Available  phosphoric  acid  per  ton. 

6  x  20  =  120    "     Available  potash  per  ton. 

Hence  each  ton  of  the  mixture  is  to  contain  80 
pounds  of  available  Nitrogen,  160  pounds  of  available 
phosphoric  acid  and  120  pounds  of  available  potash. 


We  next  determine  the  amount  of  each  ingredient  JJ°™n    of 
necessary  to  furnish  the  required  quantities  of  plant-  Fertilizers 
food.    Since  each  one  hundred  pounds  of  Nitrate  con-  "      19 
tains  15  pounds  of  Nitrogen,  the  80  pounds  of  Nitro- 
gen required  would  represent  as  many  hundreds  or 
fractions  thereof,  as  15  is  contained  in  80;  or 

80  -H  15%  =  533  Ibs.  Nitrate  of  Soda 
160  -4-  16%  =  1000  Ibs.  Acid  Phosphate 
120  4-  50%  =  240  Ibs.  Sulphate  of  Potash 

Filler 227  Ibs.  Fine  dry  loam,  or  peat,  or 

land  plaster  (gypsum) 

2000  Ibs. 


Calculations  of  Formula  of  Mixed  Materials. 

It  is  desirable,  at  times  to  determine  the  propor- 
tions of  plant-food  in  any  given  mixture.  For  instance, 
a  mixture  is  made  up  of  200  pounds  of  Nitrate  of  Soda, 
200  pounds  of  tankage,  1,000  pounds  of  acid  phosphate 
and  200  pounds  of  sulphate  of  potash,  what  is  the 
formula  if  the  Nitrate  contains  15  per  cent,  of  avail- 
able Nitrogen,  the  tankage  5  per  cent,  of  Nitrogen  and 
10  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid,  the  acid  phosphate  16 
per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid,  and  the  sulphate  of  potash 
50  per  cent,  of  potash.  The  amounts  of  plant  food 
would  then  be: — 

Nitrogen  Phos.  Acid     Potash 

Ibs.  Ibs.             Ibs. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 200  Ibs.  x  .15  =  30 

Tankage 200  Ibs.  x  .05  =  10 

Tankage '. 200  Ibs.  x  .10  =  . .  20 

Acid  Phosphate 1000  Ibs.  x  .16  =  . .  160 

Sulphate  of  Potash 200  Ibs.  x  .50  =  . .  . .           100 


Total..  ..40         180           100 


A  ton  of  the  mixture  would  thus  contain  40  pounds 
of  Nitrogen,  180  pounds  of  phosphoric  acid  and  100 
pounds  of  potash.  To  get  the  weight  per  hundred  we 
divide  each  of  these  amounts  by  20,  obtaining  a  formula 
that  may  be  represented  by  2-9-5. 


Home      TO  Calculate  the  Value  of  Mixed  Fertilizers. 

Mixing  of 
Fertilizers 

When  acid  phosphate  with  16  per  cent,  available 
phosphoric  acid  can  be  bought  at  $15.50  per  ton;  when 
sulphate  of  potash  with  48  per  cent,  of  potash  is  at 
$50.00  per  ton,  and  when  Nitrate  of  Soda  containing 
15  per  cent,  of  Nitrogen,  is  at  $52.00  per  ton;  what 
would  be  the  value  of  a  mixed  fertilizer  guaranteed  to 
contain  6  per  cent,  of  available  phosphoric  acid,  5  per 
cent,  of  potash,  and  3.25  per  cent,  of  Nitrogen? 

As  a  preliminary  step  we  have  to  determine  the 
cost  per  pound  of  the  constituents  in  the  straight  fer- 
tilizers. Thus: — 


2000  Ibs.  of  Nitrate  of  Soda  x  .15  =  300  Ibs.  available  Nitrogen 
$52.00  divided  by  300  Ibs.  =  $0.173  per  Ib. 

2000  Ibs.  of  Acid  Phosphate  x  .16  =  320   Ibs.  Phosphoric  Acid 
$15.50  divided  by  320  Ibs.  =  $0.048  per  Ib. 

2000   Ibs.  of  Sulphate  of  Potash  x  .48  =  960  Ibs.  actual  Potash 
1.00  divided  by  1000  Ibs.  =  $0.052  per  Ib. 


Next  comes  the  determination  of  the  total  plant- 
food  in  the  mixed  fertilizer.    Thus: — 


3.25%x2000  Ibs.  =  65  Ibs.  Nitrogen  which  at  $0 . 173  per  Ib.  =  $1 1 . 25 
6.00%x2000  Ibs.  =  120  Ibs.  Phosphoric  Acid 

which  at 0.148 per lb.=     5.76 

5.00%x2000  Ibs.  =  100  Ibs.  Potash  which  at  0 . 052  per  Ib.  =     5 . 20 

$22.21 


Assuming  that  all  the  Nitrogen  in  the  mixed  fer- 
tilizer was  derived  from  Nitrate,  the  value  per  ton  would 
be  $22.21,  exclusive  of  the  cost  of  mixing  and  bagging. 


Straight  Fertilizer  Formulas  for 

Farm,  Fruit,  and  Market 

Garden  Crops. 


Fertilizers 
21 


The  primary  object  in  the  preparation  of  fertilizer 
formulas  is  to  show  the  kinds  and  amounts  of  materials 
to  use  in  order  to  provide  in  a  mixture  good  forms  and 
proportions  of  the  constituents,  which  shall  be  in  good 
mechanical  condition.  It  is  not  believed  that  any  one 
formula  is  the  best  for  all  conditions,  these  vary  as 
widely  as  the  soils  and  different  methods  of  manage- 
ment. 

Substitutions  That  May  Be  Made. 

It  is  not  intended  that  the  kinds  of  materials  shall 
be  absolutely  adhered  to,  for  in  many  cases  substitutions 
of  others  may  be  made  not  only  without  materially 
changing  the  composition  of  the  resultant  mixture,  but 
which  may  also  reduce  its  actual  cost.  For  example, 
tankage  or  dried  ground  fish  may  be  substituted  for  cot- 
ton-seed meal  in  any  mixture,  and  if  the  right  grades  are 
obtained,  will  substitute  the  amount  of  nitrogen  in  it, 
though  it  may  be  in  a  slightly  less  available  form; 
besides,  the  former  contains  considerably  more  phos- 
phoric acid.  In  other  instances,  dried  blood  may  be 
substituted  with  advantage  for  the  tankage  or  cotton- 
seed meal,  though  naturally  one  pound  of  high  grade 
blood  will  furnish  practically  twice  as  much  nitrogen  as 
one  pound  of  the  others.  Again,  bone  tankage,  which 
is  quite  similar  to  ground  bone  in  its  composition,  may 
be  substituted  for  bone,  and  vice  versa,  the  substitu- 
tion depending  upon  the  cost,  as  the  availability  of  the 
constituents  is  not  materially  different.  In  the  case  of 
potash,  the  sulphate  may  be  substituted  for  the  muriate 
without  changing  the  percentage  of  actual  potash  in  the 
mixture;  whereas  if  kainit  is  substituted  for  the  higher 
grades,  four  times  the  weight  must  be  included  in  order 
to  obtain  the  same  amount  of  potash,  and  the  amount  of 


Mix"onJ,ef  the  mixture  applied  per  acre  must  be  doubled  in  order 
Fertilizers  to  obtain  the  same  number  of  pounds  of  the  constituents 
22         for  a  given  area.     For  example,  if  in  a  mixture  of 

Nitrate  of  Soda 100  Ibs. 

Ground  Bone 100    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100    " 

400  pounds  of  kainit  is  substituted  for  the  100  pounds  of 
sulphate  of  potash,  the  percentage  composition  of  the 
mixture  would  be  just  one-half  the  former,  as  the  con- 
stituents are  distributed  throughout  twice  the  weight. 

Importance  of  Mechanical  Condition. 

In  the  next  place,  care  should  be  exercised  in  the 
preparation  of  mixtures,  in  order  to  obtain  good  me- 
chanical condition.  It  is  sometimes  a  difficult  matter  to 
obtain  a  dry  mixture  from  the  use  of  purely  mineral 
fertilizing  materials,  as  superphosphates,  and  muriate  of 
potash,  or  kainit — it  is  apt  to  become  pasty  in  the  drill 
or  planter,  whereas,  if  some  dry  material,  as  bone  or 
tankage,  is  added,  the  mixture  is  much  improved  and 
the  composition  not  materially  affected. 

The  Kinds  and  Amounts  to  Apply. 

It  should  also  be  remembered  that  the  suggestions 
in  reference  both  to  the  particular  form  of  the  constitu- 
ents and  the  amounts  to  be  applied  have  reference  to 
their  application  under  average  conditions  of  soil  and 
methods  of  practice,  and  as  a  supplement  to  the  manures 
of  the  farm.  Where  a  definite  system  of  rotation  is  used, 
and  the  materials  are  applied  with  the  purpose  of  pro- 
viding the  specific  crop  with  the  constituents  especially 
needed,  the  formulas  may  be  very  materially  changed. 
Where  the  condition  of  soil  is  not  good,  or  where  ma- 
nures are  not  used,  the  amounts  recommended  should  be 
largely  increased,  practically  doubled  in  most  cases,  and 
also,  particularly  for  the  cereals,  a  greater  proportion  of 
nitrogen  should  be  used.  As  a  rule,  soils  that  are  not  in 
good  condition  will  require  a  larger  application  of  fertil- 
izers to  obtain  the  same  unit  of  increase  than  those  in 


good  condition,  because  in  the  first  case  they  do  not  f 

permit  the  ready  penetration  of  the  roots  and  the  easy  Fertilizers 
distribution   of   the  constituents.     The  indiscriminate 


23 

use  of  fertilizers  on  poor  soils  is  seldom  followed  by  as 
large  a  return  per  unit  of  plant  food  applied  as  where 
systematic  methods  obtain. 

Methods  of  Application. 

The  method  of  application  should  depend  upon  the 
character  of  the  soil,  the  crop  and  the  material.  On 
good  soils  and  for  crops  which  require  large  quantities,  a 
part  at  least,  of  the  material  should  be  applied  broadcast 
and  thoroughly  worked  into  the  surface-soil;  the  re- 
mainder may  be  used  in  the  row  at  the  time  of  seeding  or 
setting  the  plants.  It  is  particularly  desirable  that 
formulas  that  are  rich  in  potash  should  be  in  part  broad- 
casted, in  order  that  this  element  may  be  thoroughly 
intermingled  with  the  soil,  as  the  rate  at  which  this  con- 
stituent fixes,  particularly  on  soils  of  a  clayey  nature,  is 
very  rapid,  and  unless  thoroughly  harrowed  in  the  fixing 
will  take  place  largely  at  the  surface,  and  thus  not  be 
within  reach  of  the  feeding  roots.  On  sandy  soils,  and 
for  such  crops  as  sweet  potatoes,  the  concentration  of 
the  fertilizer  in  the  row  is  more  desirable  than  in  the  case 
of  good  soils  and  for  white  potatoes,  though  the  minerals 
phosphoric  acid  and  potash  may  be  distributed  in  part. 
When  applied  in  the  row  for  sweet  potatoes,  it  is  desir- 
able that  it  should  be  done  two  or  three  weeks,  at  least, 
before  the  plants  are  set,  thus  avoiding  possible  injury 
from  the  excess  in  the  soil. 

Most  manufacturers  and  dealers  in  fertilizers  are 
willing  to  supply  farmers  with  the  materials  suggested, 
or  to  mix  them  at  reasonable  rates. 

If  you  cannot  conveniently  get  all  the  materials  for 
mixing  your  formulas  and  can  secure  any  reputable 
brand  of  ordinary  commercial  fertilizer,  buy  a  bag  of 
Nitrate  of  Soda  and  mix  it  with  four  to  six  bags  of 
such  commercial  fertilizer;  and  the  mixing  may  be  done 
on  your  barn  floor.  You  will  thereby  improve  and 
fortify  the  brand  you  are  buying  in  a  way  to  vastly  en- 
hance its  crop-making  powers. 


Home  if  t}ie  Nitrate  should  happen  to  be  lumpy,  the  use 

Fertilizers  of  a  straight,  heavy  fence  post,  rolled  over  it  two  or 
24         three  times  will  reduce  it  to  splendid  condition  for  home- 
mixing. 

One  hundred  pounds  of  Nitrate  of  Soda  is  equal  in 
bulk  to  about  one  bushel,  or  25  pounds  to  about  one 
peck. 

Materials  Not  To  Be  Mixed. 

Certain  Ammoniates  contain  iron,  and  if  mixed 
with  acid  phosphate  you  will  lose  a  considerable  portion 
of  your  available  phosphoric  acid. 

Lime  should  not  be  mixed  with  Sulphate  of  Am- 
monia and  materials  containing  lime,  should  not  be 
used  in  this  connection  without  advice  from  an  ex- 
perienced fertilizer  chemist. 

Excessive  quantities  of  lime  should  not  be  mixed 
with  Superphosphate,  Barnyard  Manure  or  Bone  Meal. 

Sulphate  of  Ammonia  should  not  be  mixed  with 
Thomas  Slag  and  Norwegian  Nitrate. 

Basic  Slag  should  not  be  mixed  with  Sulphate 
of  Ammonia,  Blood  or  Tankage  as  the  lime  affects 
these  materials  and  releases  Ammonia.  If  mixed  with 
Kainit  it  must  be  applied  shortly  after  mixing. 

Cyanamid  must  not  be  mixed  directly  with  Sul- 
phate of  Ammonia,  but  if  mixed  according  to  directions 
will  give  good  results. 


Home-Mixing  Table. 

To  ascertain  the  quantity  of  each  material  neces- 
sary to  make  1,000  pounds  of  Fertilizer  of  any  desired 
analysis. 


Home 
Mixing  of 
Fertilizers 

25 


Percentage 
Required. 

Available 
Nitrogen  from 
Nitrate  of  Soda. 

Available  Phosphoric  Acid. 

Available 
Potash  from 
Sulphate 
of  Potash. 

From  14% 
Acid  Phosphate. 

From  16% 
Acid  Phosphate. 

1% 

67  Ibs. 

71  Ibs. 

63  Ibs. 

19  Ibs. 

2% 

133 

143 

125 

38 

3% 

200 

214 

188 

58 

4% 

267 

286 

250 

77 

5% 

333 

357 

313 

96 

6% 

400 

429 

375 

115 

7% 

467 

500 

438 

135 

8% 

533 

571 

500 

154 

9% 

600 

643 

563 

173 

10% 

667 

714 

625 

192 

Example:  A  common  and  profitable  formula  for 
Oats  is  4-7-5,  that  is  4  per  cent.  Nitrogen,  7  per  cent, 
phosphoric  acid,  5  per  cent,  potash.  From  the  table 
we  ascertain  that  4  per  cent,  available  Nitrogen  is  ob- 
tained by  using  267  pounds  Nitrate  of  Soda,  7  per  cent, 
available  phosphoric  acid  is  obtained  by  using  438 
pounds  16  per  cent,  phosphate  and  5  per  cent,  available 
potash  is  obtained  by  using  96  pounds  sulphate  of 
potash,  making  a  total  of  801  pounds  which  contains  the 
same  amount  of  plant  food  as  1,000  pounds  of  4-7-5 
ready -mixed  fertilizer.  Should  it  be  desired  to  make  an 
even  thousands  pounds,  add  a  sufficient  amount  of 
fine  dry  loam. 


Home 
Mixing  of 
Fertilizers 

26 


Formulas  for  Farm  Crops. 

Corn. 

(No.  1) 

Nitrate  of  Soda 200  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 500     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam ...200    " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  600  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.00  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  8.00  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

(No.  2) 

Nitrate  of  Soda 150  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 500     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 250    " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  GOO  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  2.25  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  8.00  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

Formula  No.  1  is  best  suited  for  sandy  loams  or 
soils.  Formula  No.  2  is  for  medium  and  heavy  loams. 


Oats  and  Spring  Wheat.  Home 

Mixing  of 

/XT  Fertilizers 

(No.    1) 


Nitrate  of  Soda 250  Ibs.  27 

Acid  Phosphate 450    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 200     " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  400  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3,75  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  7.20  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

(No.  2) 
Nitrate  of  Soda 200  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 500     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100 

Fine  Dry  Loam 200     " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  400  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.00  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  8.00  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

Formula  No.  2  is  best  suited  for  use  in  connection 
with  a  leguminous  green  manure. 

Winter  Wheat,  Rye  and  Hay  or  Grass  Lands. 

(No.  1) 
Nitrate  of  Soda 100  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 600     " 

Muriate  of  Potash 50    " 

Fine  Dry  Loam .250    " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  400  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  1.50  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  9.60  per  cent.;  available 
potash  2.50  per  cent. 


Home  (N0.   £) 

Mixmg  of  Nitrate  of  Soda 200  Ihs. 

Fertilizers 

— —  Acid  Phosphate..  .500 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 200     " 


1,000  ll)s. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  400  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.00  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  8.00  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

Mixture  No.  1  is  best  adapted  for  heavy  soils; 
mixture  No.  2,  for  medium  and  light  loams. 

Barley. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 250  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 450     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 200     " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  400  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.75  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  7.20  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

Clovers,  Alfalfa,  Cow  Peas,  Soy  Beans  and  Vetch. 

Nitrate  of  Soda :     70  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 550     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 280    " 

1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  300-500  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  1.05  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  8.80  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 


Cotton. 

Mixing  of 

Nitrate  of  Soda 250  Ibs.  Fertilizers 

Acid  Phosphate 600    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 50     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 100     " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  400  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.75  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  9.60  per  cent.;  available 
potash  2.50  per  cent. 

Rice. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 100  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 800     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100     " 


1,000  Ibs. 

Application  at  the  rate  of  300  pounds  per  acre* 
Apply  soon  after  mixing. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  1.50  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  12.80  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

Tobacco. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 540  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 100     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 200     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 160     " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  1,000  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  8.10  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  1.60  per  cent.;  available 
potash  10.00  per  cent. 

As  a  general  rule,  and  subject  to  any  special 
soil  conditions,  we  recommend  that  the  above  Nitrate 
of  Soda  mixture  intended  to  be  applied  to  the 
tobacco  crop  be  given  in  three  equal  dressings.  The 
first  of  these  should  be  incorporated  with  the  soil 
just  before  the  planting  out,  the  second  should  be  given 


Mix^0™*  as  a  *°P  dressing  ftt  *nc  time  of  the  first  hoeing  and  the 
Fertilizers  last  instalment,  in  the  same  manner,  about  a  fortnight 


or  three  weeks  later. 


30 

Sweet  Potatoes. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 200  Ihs. 

Acid  Phosphate 550 

Sulphate  of  Potash 150 

Fine  Dry  Loam 100    " 


1,000  Ihs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  1,000  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.00  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  8.80  per  cent.;  available 
potash  7.50  per  cent. 

Early  and  Late  Irish  Potatoes. 

(No.  1) 

Nitrate  of  Soda 320  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 480     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100 

Fine  Dry  Loam 100 


1,000  Ihs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  1 ,000  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  4.80  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  7.68  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

In  order  to  secure  a  satisfactory  mechanical  con- 
dition, this  mixture  will  require  about  300-400  pounds 
additional  of  fine  dry  loam  for  each  1,000  pounds  of 
material. 

(No.  2) 

Nitrate  of  Soda 260  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 440    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100 

Fine  Dry  Loam 200 

1,000  Ihs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  1,000  pounds  per  acre. 


Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.90  per  cent.;  ]^?™e 

•1111  i  •  i      rv  f\f\  -ill       Mixing  of 

available    phosphoric    acid    7.00    per    cent.;    available  Fertilizers 
potash  5.00  per  cent.  31 

Hops. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 600  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 200 

Sulphate  of  potash 100 

Filler..  100     " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  1,000  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  9.00  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  3.20  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 


Formula  for  Market  Garden  Crops 

Asparagus,  Beans,  Beets,  (early),  Cabbage,  Carrots, 
Cauliflower,  Celery,  Cucumbers,  Egg-Plant,  Endive, 
Kale,  Lettuce,  Muskmelons,  Onions,  Peas,  (early), 
Peppers,  Pumpkins,  Radishes,  Spinach,  Squash, 
Tomatoes  and  Watermelons. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 300  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 400 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100 

Fine  Dry  Loam "200     " 


1,000  Ibs. 

Application  at  the  rate  of  about  1,000  pounds  per 
acre,  at  the  time  of  seeding  and  an  additional  applica- 
tion at  the  rate  of  about  500  pounds  to  be  made  between ' 
the  rows  later  in  the  season. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  4.50  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  6.40  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 


Formulas  for  Fruits  and  Berries 

Fertilizers 


Apples,  Pears,  Peaches,  Plums,  Grapes,  Currants, 

Strawberries,  Raspberries,  Blackberries, 

and  Gooseberries. 

(No.  1) 

Nitrate  of  Soda 300  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 400    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100    " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 200    " 

1,000  Ibs. 

Applications  at  the  rate  of  about  1,000  pounds  per 
acre  for  berries  and  400-800  pounds  for  fruit  trees. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  4.50  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  6.40  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

(No.  2) 

Nitrate  of  Soda : 200  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 300    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100    " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 400    " 

1,000  Ibs. 

Application  at  the  rate  of  about  1,000  pounds  per 
acre  for  berries  and  400-800  pounds  for  fruit  trees. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.00  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  4.80  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

Formula  1  is  best  adapted  for  medium  and  heavy 
soils,  Formula  2  for  sandy  soils. 


Formulas  for  Citrus  Fruits         SJSi  of 


Young  Orange  Trees- 
Nitrate  of  Soda 350  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 350    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 100    " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 200    " 


Fertilizers 
33 


1,000  Ibs. 

Application  at  the  rate  of  1,0.00  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  5.25  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  5.60  per  cent.;  available 
potash  5.00  per  cent. 

Old  Orange  Trees. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 375  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 435     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 90     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 100    " 


1,000  Ibs. 

Application  at  the  rate  of  1,600  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  5.62  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  7.96  per  cent.;  available 
potash  4.50  per  cent. 


Mandarin  Oranges. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 375  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 420    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 80    " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 125    " 

1,000  Ibs. 


Application  at  the  rate  of  1,200  pounds  to  the  acre. 

Fertilizers 

34  Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  5.62  per  cent.; 

available   phosphoric   acid    6.72   per   cent.;   available 
potash  4.00  per  cent. 


Grape  Fruit. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 375  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 435     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 90     " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 100    " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  1,800  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  5.62  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  7.96  per  cent.;  available 
potash  4.50  per  cent. 


Lemons. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 375  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate. .' 435     " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 90    " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 100     " 


1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  1,600  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  5.62  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  7.96  per  cent.;  available 
potash  4.50  per  cent. 


Home 
Mixifig  of 
Fertilizers 

Formulas  for  Olives.  35 

Young  Olive  Trees. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 300  Ibs. 

Acid  Phosphate 450 

Sulphate  of  Potash 150    " 

Fine  Dry  Loam 100    " 

1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  660  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  4.50  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  7.20  per  cent.;  available 
potash  7.50  per  cent. 

Old  Olive  Trees. 

Nitrate  of  Soda 260  Ibs, 

Acid  Phosphate 520    " 

Sulphate  of  Potash 85 

Fine  Dry  Loam 135    " 

1,000  Ibs. 
Application  at  the  rate  of  1,150  pounds  per  acre. 

Composition: — Available  Nitrogen  3.90  per  cent.; 
available  phosphoric  acid  8.32  per  cent. ;  available 
potash  4.25  per  cent. 


Home 
Mixing  of 
Fertilizers 


GENERAL  DIRECTIONS 

FOR  THE   USE  OF  NITRATE  OF  SODA 

ON  STAPLE  CROPS. 

We  never  recommend  the  use  of  Nitrate  of  Soda 
alone  except  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  pounds  to  the 
acre,  for  seeded  crops  and  two  hundred  pounds  to  the 
acre  for  cultivated  crops.  It  may  be  thus  safely  and 
profitably  used  without  other  fertilizers.  It  may  be  even- 
ly applied  at  this  rate  as  a  broadcast  top-dressing,  by 
hand,  or  by  machine,  in  the  Spring  of  the  year,  as  soon 
as  crops  begin  rapid,  new  growth.  At  this  rate  very 
satisfactory  results  are  usually  obtained  without  the  use 
of  any  other  fertilizer,  and  soda  residual,  after  the 
nitrogenous  food  of  this  chemical  is  used  up  by  the 
plant,  has  a  perceptible  effect  in  sweetening  sour  land. 
One  hundred  pounds  of  Nitrate  is  equal  in  bulk  to  about 
one  bushel. 

When  it  is  desired  to  use  a  larger  amount  than  one 
hundred  pounds  of  Nitrate  per  acre  for  seeded  crops 
(or  two  hundred  pounds  per  acre  for  cultivated  crops) 
there  should  be  present  some  form  of  available  phos- 
phatic  and  potassic  plant  food,  and  we  recommend  two 
hundred  pounds  of  acid  phosphate  and  one  hundred 
pounds  of  sulphate  of  potash. 

In  most  of  our  Grass  experiments  where  Nitrate 
was  used  alone  at  the  rate  of  only  one  hundred  pounds 
per  acre,  not  only  was  the  aftermath,  or  rowen  much 
improved,  but  in  subsequent  seasons,  with  no  further 
application  of  fertilizers  to  the  plots  a  decidedly  marked 
effect  was  noticed,  even  on  old  meadows.  This  speaks 
very  well  indeed  for  Nitrate  of  Soda  not  leaching  out  of 
the  soil.  The  readily  soluble  elements  of  fertility  are  the 
readily  available  elements.  The  natural  capillarity  of 
soils,  doubtless,  is  in  most  instances  a  powerful  factor  in 
retaining  all  readily  soluble  elements  of  fertility,  other- 
wise all  the  fertility  of  the  world  in  our  humid  regions 
would,  in  a  season  or  two,  run  into  the  ocean,  and  be 
permanently  lost.  This  is  mentioned  on  account  of 
certain  critics  having  taken  the  trouble  to  object  to 


37 


the  use  of  Nitrate  on  the  ground  that  it  would  leach  JJ°me 
away.     A  case  is  yet  to  be  seen  where  the  after  effects  Fertilizers 
of  Nitrate  are  not  distinguishable,  and  in  most  cases  such 
effects  have  been  marked.    The  two  thousand  tons  of 
active  top  soil  in  an  acre  of  land  have  a  powerful  holding 
capacity  for  all  the  useful  available  elements  of  fertility. 
These  2,000  tons  form  the  part  usually  subject  to  cul- 
tivation and  might  be  called  service  soil. 

For  market  gardening  crops,  hops,  sugar-beets 
and  other  cultivated  crops,  two  hundred  pounds  of 
Nitrate  per  acre  may  be  used  to  great  advantage. 

When  the  above  amounts  of  phosphatic  and  potas- 
sic  fertilizers  are  used,  as  much  as  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  of  Nitrate,  or  even  more,  may  be  applied  with 
profit. 

If  you  have  any  reason  to  suspect  adulteration  of 
Nitrate,  send  a  pound  or  so  of  it  to  your  Experiment 
Station  for  analysis,  giving  date  of  purchase,  full  name 
and  address  of  dealer  and  of  the  company  which  the 
seller  represents,  with  full  description  of  marks  on  the 
bag  or  bags  from  which  you  draw  the  sample. 

On  the  Pacific  Coast,  Nitrate  may  be  applied  as  a 
top-dressing  after  the  heavy  Spring  rains  are  over,  but 
before  crops  attain  much  of  a  start;  although  recent 
experience  in  California  suggests  that  Nitrate  may  be 
applied  to  better  advantage  just  as  soon  as  growth 
starts  in  the  Spring,  or  better,  before  seeding  or  plant- 
ing. 

When  Nitrate  is  applied  at  the  rate  of  two  hun- 
dred (200)  pounds  per  acre  for  cultivated  crops  and 
used  alone  this  application  figures  out  at  the  rate  of 
8  oz.  for  a  plot  10x10.  This  application  is  equivalent 
to  about  1  oz.  to  the  square  yard. 

So  many  inquiries  have  been  made  requesting 
amounts  to  be  applied  to  small  areas  that  the  above 
word  is  given  in  this  connection. 


248147 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  AT  LOS  ANGELES 

THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


-m  I.  '.'    15m-7,'85 


The  home  mixing 
nf  fertilizers. — 


S 
635 


